Pet therapy for those with dementia (Part 2)

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

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Pet therapy(Part 2)

Finally, although pet therapy is effective with many people with dementia, it is important to remember that not everyone enjoys the presence of animals. A man who has been terrified of large dogs his entire life, for instance, will probably not benefit from being visited by a Great Dane, and a woman who spent her childhood chasing rabbits out of the garden may not want to have one curled up on her lap. Like any other type of therapeutic intervention, pet therapy should take the patient's likes and dislikes into account.

For people who enjoy animals, though, pet therapy offers some solid benefits: better health, more relaxed mood, enhanced connection to the world, improved communication, and the badly needed chance to play and create.

Pet therapy for those with dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Get your subscription to Activity Director Today's e magazine

Pet therapy days are different. When Mitzi, a lovely golden retriever, and her owner come into Martha's room, a smile crosses Martha's face. She reaches out to pet the dog. It is the only activity she ever initiates. Sometimes, she even mumbles a word or two.

A small miracle, to be sure, but a miracle nonetheless to Martha's family, who thought they would never see her smile or hear her speak again.

In nursing facilities, day care centers, hospitals, and private homes throughout the country, pets are being used for therapy with senior citizens. Owning a pet has been correlated with lower blood pressure, lower blood triglyceride levels, increased activity and socialization, and even increased length of survival following a heart attack.

Pet therapy seems to be especially effective with senior citizens suffering from cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's. Many people with dementia experience periods of agitation, especially in the evening hours. This is referred to as "sundowning." Sundowning is not only stressful for the person with dementia, it can be very difficult for caregivers as well. Studies have shown that regular contact with a pet can help decrease anxiety and increase feelings of calm and well-being, even during the difficult evening hours. Some Alzheimer's patients have been able to stop taking anti-anxiety medication after regular contact with pets was initiated.

Pets can also enhance the patient's connection to his or her world. Even people with very advanced dementia, like Martha, will sometimes respond to the comforting presence of an animal even if they respond to little else.

People with dementia are at risk for loneliness and isolation. As they become forgetful and disoriented, they may be reluctant to talk to new people or even to friends and family. A pet visit can help break the ice and provide a happy topic for conversation. Some people with dementia will communicate more readily with animals than with humans. A pet, after all, is a nonjudgmental listener who won't notice that they've used the wrong word or scold them for telling the same story four or five times.

Finally, pet visits allow people with dementia a chance to play and express themselves creatively. Pets can even become a valuable part of a therapy program. A man who might not want to practice walking with a physical therapist because it feels too much like work, for instance, might be overjoyed at the chance to take a dog for a walk because that seems more like play.

When most people think of therapy pets, they automatically think of dogs. Other animals used in therapy programs include horses, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and fish.

Not every animal is appropriate for pet therapy work. The ideal therapy pet is calm and gentle with no aggressive tendencies. This is especially important for therapy pets who work with people with dementia. Like a small child, a person with advanced dementia may not know how to respond appropriately to a pet and may accidentally startle it or pull at its fur. The animal's tendency should be to withdraw rather than to attack.

Very anxious or loud animals also do not make good therapy companions, as they may increase the anxiety of dementia patients rather than reduce it.

Finally, although pet therapy is effective with many people with dementia, it is important to remember that.....read more next time

Dementia agitation and alternate therapies

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals.

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two



Myoptimumhealth.com

Jane Harrison R.D.

Scientists are trying to find new ways to preserve memory and perhaps even prevent Alzheimer's. But what if a loved one already has this debilitating disease?
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but you can try to enhance the person's quality of life. One way to do this is with therapies that take aim at the anxiety, depression and agitated behaviors that often come with dementia. You can talk to your doctor about using these therapies along with medication or as an alternative.
Alternative treatments
Music therapy, massage, exercise and aromatherapy have all shown promise in helping to ease the depressive and anxious behaviors of dementia. But aside from a few small studies, solid proof is lacking on these treatments. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the results.
All the same, some caregivers and people who work with Alzheimer's patients report seeing improvements from using the following alternative therapies:
Music therapy

Music that is familiar and likable may help to ease depression and agitation in people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. In some cases it can also improve sociability and movement. This is especially true if it has personal meaning for someone or is connected with events from his or her past. Even if someone cannot name the tune, familiar songs can bring a sense of happiness, calm or peace.
Pet therapy

Some people with dementia seem to respond to the comforting presence of an animal even if they respond to little else. Just petting, walking or playing with dogs (or other animals) can bring out feelings of calm and well-being. It makes some people with Alzheimer's remember pets from the past and brings others out of their shells. Regular contact with a pet can help lessen anxiety and agitation and promote social skills.
Massage

There is some evidence that massage therapy may reduce behaviors such as wandering, aggression and agitation. In two studies, hand massage and gentle touching during conversation helped ease agitation and restore appetite in dementia patients over short periods of about an hour. Some researchers and caregivers also believe that massage may help improve memory and cognition in those with dementia.
Exercise

Light exercise and walking appear to reduce wandering, aggression and agitation in some people with Alzheimer's. Mixing exercise into daily routines and scheduled activities can also help ease problem behaviors, some studies found. The type of exercise should be tailored to the person's abilities. Always check with your doctor before you start any type of exercise program.
Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils from fragrant plants. Some research suggests that aromatherapy can promote relaxation and sleep, relieve pain and reduce depression. One small trial showed that aromatherapy significantly helped to relieve agitation and other psychiatric symptoms. Larger trials are underway.
Melatonin and Bright light therapy

Sleep disorders are very common with dementia. Along with the hormone melatonin, exposure to bright light is known to play a role in our sleep/wake cycles. In one well-controlled study, researchers learned that people exposed to specific amounts of daytime bright light showed modest improvements in dementia symptoms such as depression, mood and sleep. One small study, though, showed that melatonin could reverse this good effect. But more research is needed to see the effects of melatonin and light therapy on people with dementia. Some research has not found that melatonin improves any cognitive or behavioral problems seen with dementia.
In any case, do not take any supplements without first talking to your doctor.
A word on vitamin E and ginkgo

• Vitamin E. Some studies have shown that vitamin E can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, while other studies have shown no benefit. Doctors now warn people against taking large dosages of vitamin E, because it can raise your risk of cardiovascular death.
• Ginkgo. It was once thought that extracts from the leaves of the ginkgo biloba tree could help slow the progression of memory problems. A large-scale scientific study debunked that theory, though.

View the original Alternative therapies that may help ease the struggles of Alzheimer's dementia article on myOptumHealth.com